Evaluation of atmospheric water vapor product from the MODIS online visualization and analysis system during the summer of 2015

Red Castilla, Edgar Vallar, Maria Cecilia Galvez, Mylene Cayetano, James Simpas, Melliza Cruz, Rheo Lamorena-Lim, Len Herald Lim, Preciosa Corazon Pabroa, Ronald Macatangay, Gerry Bagtasa, Vernon Morris

Research output: Contribution to conferencePaperpeer-review

Abstract

Atmospheric water vapor plays a significant role in radiation balance and biogeochemical processes. As the primary greenhouse gas, its quantification is very essential in a wide range of application such as numerical weather prediction, radiative transfer modeling, regional climate modeling, and air quality studies. Columnar measurements of water vapor, or precipitable water (PW) are necessary in many of these applications and can be obtained by remote sensing and in-situ methods. Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) onboard the polar-orbiting Terra and Aqua platforms, can monitor precipitable water with high accuracy and large scales over land and ocean, using near-infrared (nIR) bands on clear sky conditions. The MODIS nIR PW is only available during daytime, which can be retrieved at 1°×1° spatial resolution from the MODIS Online Visualization and Analysis System (MOVAS). MODIS water vapor product at the 931-941 nm bandwidth was evaluated by comparing with coincidental ground-based measurements of PW using a handheld spectral solar radiometer (Microtops II) measuring PW at 936 nm during a measurement campaign of the summer of 2015. Further, PW values derived from atmospheric soundings by the nearest radiosonde station were used to evaluate the accuracy of the different PW measurements. Systematic comparisons among the different platforms, i.e. bivariate correlation, absolute and relative root mean square error, absolute and relative mean biased error were performed. Multiple linear regression analysis to calibrate the MODIS PW from the nIR band using Microtops II and radiosonde observations within MODIS image coverage are presented and assessed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
StatePublished - 2015
Externally publishedYes
Event36th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing: Fostering Resilient Growth in Asia, ACRS 2015 - Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Duration: Oct 24 2015Oct 28 2015

Conference

Conference36th Asian Conference on Remote Sensing: Fostering Resilient Growth in Asia, ACRS 2015
Country/TerritoryPhilippines
CityQuezon City, Metro Manila
Period10/24/1510/28/15

Keywords

  • Atmospheric moisture
  • MODIS
  • MOVAS
  • Microtops II sunphotometer
  • Radiosonde

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Networks and Communications

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